Kamen Rider Hibiki finally joined the S.H. Figuarts line for the first time over 4 years ago. Then last year, Tamashii finally made their second addition from Hibiki's world to this line with Kamen Rider Ibuki. And while the Oni Riders have been slow to appear in the Shinkocchou Seihou line, it looks like things are gaining momentum now! With an upcoming release for Kamen Rider Zanki on the way, we're taking today to look at his recently released apprentice and partner, Kamen Rider Todoroki!

Like any Oni master, Zaoumaru Zaitsuhara took on an apprentice. Someone to pass along his skills to, his techniques, and one day his title as well. But the young man once known as Tomizo Todoyama had other plans. This skilled and kind warrior wasn't quite as experienced as his contemporaries Hibiki or Ibuki when he made his debut in the battle against the Makamou, but his dedication to protect others made him the hero he is today. Refusing to inherit the title of Zanki to create his own legacy, Todoyama took on the name Todoroki!

Packaging
It's the familiar Shinkocchou Seihou slip cover box once again! Not much can be said about it this time that hasn't been said before. It's gotten a bit stale (to me) over time but it's still a pleasing type of uniform collector's box thats great for storage.

Main Figure
First things first, like Hibiki, & Ibuki, Todoroki is just a really gorgeous figure. The sculpt of this body type is superb (even 4 years on!), really bringing to life these unique Oni Rider suits. In every way imaginable it captures the look of the on screen suit right down to the textured musculature. A favorite detail of mine. The design process Seihou's go through has always been much much more involved than that of the standard figuarts line and the best examples of this were the special booklets included with Kabuto & Hibiki. When the design begins with a sort of skeletal inner frame, and builds out what would be like a suit on a real body like this, you get a much more realistic application of articulation and proportion to the body as a result.

Now despite the obvious cosmetic changes, Todoroki is exactly the same basic figure as Hibiki & Ibuki, even featuring identical articulation. When Bandai nails the basic design of the body, it can be truly astounding how outer level cosmetic changes can create a vastly different presentation. But of course, even 4 years later some of my issues with this mold still persist. I've always found the legs to be quite odd. To me, they look really long and at odds with the torso, especially when bent for crouching poses. Something about them looks off. They function well enough, though I've always thought this mold had one of the more strange figuarts hip joints out there. While the part separation undoubtedly gives them great range, the hips look very small by the time you angle them out fully, making the thigh seem huge by comparison. And while the knees function just fine, the feet irk me to no end. Despite being pretty big, too big if you ask me, they don't easily rest flat on any surface, and the toe bends are perpetually difficult to line up straight. It's just hard to get a release of this mold in a solid flat footed stance. But more to the point I've found 3 times now that the ankle joints just aren't quite strong enough either.

Todoroki's belt is really loaded up with accessories like his predecessors. This figure comes with a lot and luckily you can store some of it on his belt given the display options you've chosen. When loaded out for static poses, the left hip can be outfitted with a Disc Animal holster with 3 non-removable discs sculpted in. Or you can keep the out of box standard part which is an empty holster for when you want him to hold the discs in hand. Straight out of the box, the center of the belt has Todoroki's Ongekishin Raigou attached. This rectangular piece is removable to simulate how it combines with the Ongekigen - Retsurai, though it does not actually combine (a seperate piece is included). It can be used with any Oni Rider that has a similarly designed belt.

The upper body is identical to Hibiki, just removing the silver accent parts and replacing them with a fantastic bandoleer like sash as well as a silver mesh going under the left armpit. The upper and lower halves of the torso move independent of one another, though it's a tight fit to get either to move very far. I've always felt this body type was a bit stiff, but it gets the job done very nicely still. Todoroki's arms are basically identical to Hibiki & Ibuki, though like the rest of the body are painted in a nice glossy deep green. I really truly love the silver fade on the forearms. Something about that with the backdrop of dark green really gives this figure a nice premium feel. The left shoulder pad does impact the bandoleer at times so be careful not to scratch it, but thankfully the pads don't pop off frequently as they did with Ibuki. The left wrist also features Henshin Kigen Onjou. This one is in it's closed form, but an open version of the accessory is included to replicate Todoroki's transformation.

And like Hibiki & Ibuki, Todoroki has a stunningly accurate headsculpt. All 3 riders have isnanely well detailed sculpts, but the Oni face on Todoroki's head is just top notch. The horn protrusion on his head is actually quite sharp as well, so watch out there. The head does tend to pop off a bit more easily than the others, which is odd given Ibuki was the one with a head swap option. It's astounding how different this mold has been 3 releases in a row. While the upcoming Zanki undoubtedly (and properly) isn't too different from his disciple Todoroki, I expect it to be another welcome addition.

Accessories
As with the other Oni Riders, Todoroki is fully loaded:

4 - sets of hands. This gives you basically everything you need to hold the other included accessories, Thankfully Bandai has even gone so far as to sculpt a small tab on the ends of a couple of the right hands so that Todoroki can properly strum his guitar, but also to help hold it up. Likely knowing the wrist joints wouldn't be quite strong enough to hold it up with one hand (they really aren't) the tabbed right hands do the perfect job of maintaining balance.

1 - Ongekigen Retsurai. This extremely ornate guitar is the weapon of choice for both Todoroki and originally his master Zanki. Each of these figure's includes an idnetical Retsurai, but a different Ongekishin to place on the strings. When combined with the Ongekishin you can also open up the the side of it to fan out sharp edges for the Blade Attacking Mode. I should mention that no matter which mode it's displayed in, the red Onisho face sculpted into the end of it is just exquisite.

1 - Ongekishin Raigou. This enlarged version of the one worn on Todoroki's belt is meant to plug directly onto the Retsurai to recreate the Blade Attacking Mode. It plugs onto to a very very tight silver peg on the front of the Retsurai and once there, can be quite difficult to remove safely. Just be careful not to scratch or break anything.

1- Disc Animal holster. This alterate left hip part is sculpted with 3 disc animals (non-Removeable) and can be substititued for the empty holder he has out of box. For display I generally always have this attachment on.

3 - (non-transforming) Disc Animals. As with others, these don't transform, nor do I think that should be expected at this scale. Transformation joints made of plastic this thin would be ridiculously brittle. I'd like to have seen alternate already transformed animals included, but it's honestly not that big a deal either. The Discs included are Ryoku Ōzaru, Seiji Gaeru, and Kogane Ōkami. The Kogane Ōkami disc is the yellow upgraded form of the Ruri Ōkami Disc, which came with Seihou Hibiki.

1 - alternate Henshin Kigen Onjou. This version of the device has the face pulled fown and open, exposing the strings which both Todoroki and Zanki would strum before being hit by lighting to transform into Oni. This part can be swapped out for the standard version on the left wrist. Both parts are a bit loose fitting on the wrist though so be careful not to lose either of them.

Just like the others, Todoroki comes with it all frankly.

Final ThoughtsHibiki took so long to become an S.H. Figuart and it was fitting that his debut came in the Shinkocchou Seihou line. 4 years was such a long time to wait for another Hibiki riders, but Ibuki was worth the wait. Now that things are gaining some real momentum, I'm incredibly pleased to at last have Todoroki. And with Zanki on the horizon, what more could we expect from Hibiki in the Seihou line? Essentially every rider in the series and films has a uniform base body. But there are just so many of them as well. Could we see Kyoki after his recent appearances in Zi-O? Or perhaps an antagonist like Kabuki? Maybe even an easy repaint like Hibiki Kurenai? The options are vast for this series and it's related media. The liklihood of ever getting them all is slim, but the repaint and slight remold potential is high. Here's to hoping we see at least one more Hibiki reveal or announcement before the end of this year.

Excellent gallery! Hibiki has some of my favorite Kamen Rider designs, but I haven't managed to get any of the figuarts. Still waiting patiently for Eiki and Sabaki. Very patiently...

There are just so many damn Oni to choose from. Even taking like the odd stage show riders out, or one off show appearances. If we get even half of everyone I'll be shocked. But at this point I'll buy basically any and everyone that comes out.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crown Athlete

Hate to be a bother but what camera and lens combo are you using? Your pictures have gotten progressively better over the years, I'm jealous!

No bother at all! I use an older Sony Alpha 3000 with stock lense. I've had it for about 4 years now and I've probably maximized it's potential sadly. Until I can afford a big upgrade I don't think my work will improve substantially from here. But I do feel like over time, and very incrementally, I have improved. Thank you so much.

There are just so many damn Oni to choose from. Even taking like the odd stage show riders out, or one off show appearances. If we get even half of everyone I'll be shocked. But at this point I'll buy basically any and everyone that comes out.

No bother at all! I use an older Sony Alpha 3000 with stock lense. I've had it for about 4 years now and I've probably maximized it's potential sadly. Until I can afford a big upgrade I don't think my work will improve substantially from here. But I do feel like over time, and very incrementally, I have improved. Thank you so much.